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1.2.3 - Stage 1B (Power Transmissions)

Objective: Learn FRC power transmission — motors, shafts, gears, belts, and chains — and model three custom gearboxes in Onshape.

So far you have designed structural parts. A robot also needs power. This module covers how rotational motion moves from a motor to a mechanism through gears, belts, and chains.

Step 1: Open your workbench

Section titled “Step 1: Open your workbench”

Gearbox models need library parts: motors, hex shafts, and gears. Use the classroom workbench so those parts are already loaded.

  1. Open the Stage 1B workbench.
  2. Launch your working document from the classroom link. Build the gear, belt, and chain drives in that file.
Enter the Stage 1B workbench

Step 2: Complete the training exercises

Section titled “Step 2: Complete the training exercises”

Work through these sections in order. Read the theory before the exercises. FRC hardware, including hex shafts, is specific.

Part 1: Power transmission theory. Motors, gears, belts, and chains in an FRC context. Open the Stage 1B introduction

Part 2: Practice exercises. Follow the FRCDesign steps to model a gearbox, a belt drive, and a chain drive in the document from Step 1.

Step 3: Return checklist

Section titled “Step 3: Return checklist”
  • Identify common FRC motors (Kraken, Falcon, NEO)
  • Model a 1/2 in hex shaft and use spacers for alignment
  • Use the FRC Design FeatureScript to generate gears with the correct tooth count
  • Calculate center-to-center distances for belts and chains
  • Use mate connectors to align motion components

Step 4: Submission

Section titled “Step 4: Submission”
  1. Click Submit in the Onshape Classroom.
  2. Tell a CAD mentor or your subteam lead. They will check gear ratios and center-to-center distances from your workbench link.